Reading time: four minutes From an oral surgeon’s perspective, gum disease does not immediately disqualify a patient from dental implants. What matters most is whether the infection is controlled and the jawbone can support stable implant placement.
Table of Contents
- What Is Gum Disease?
- How Gum Disease Leads to Tooth Loss
- Dental Implants and Gum Disease: Is It Possible?
- Treating Gum Disease Before Implant Placement
- What If Gum Disease Caused Bone Loss?
- All-on-4® Dental Implants for Gum Disease and Bone Loss
- Risks of Dental Implants After Gum Disease
- How to Protect Dental Implants Long Term
- A Healthy Foundation Comes First
- FAQ
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a chronic infection of the gums and the bone that supports your teeth.
It often starts as gingivitis. At this early stage, gums may look red, swollen, or bleed easily, but the bone underneath remains intact. Without treatment, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, where infection damages the bone that anchors your teeth in place.
Common signs of gum disease include:
- Bleeding during brushing or flossing
- Swollen or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Gum recession or teeth appearing longer
- Loose or shifting teeth
Once bone loss begins, tooth stability and long-term oral health are at risk.
How Gum Disease Leads to Tooth Loss
When plaque hardens into tartar below the gumline, bacteria trigger inflammation that slowly destroys the supporting bone.
As bone loss progresses:
- Gums pull away from teeth and form deep pockets
- Bacteria multiply below the surface
- Teeth lose stability and loosen over time
Eventually, teeth may fall out or require extraction. The same bone damage that causes tooth loss also impacts implant placement.
Dental Implants and Gum Disease: Is It Possible?
You cannot place dental implants into infected gums or unstable bone. However, having a history of gum disease does not automatically disqualify you.
Implant eligibility depends on several factors:
- Whether gum disease is active or controlled
- How much bone loss has occurred
- Your overall health and healing ability
- Your commitment to long-term oral hygiene
If gum disease is active, treatment must come first. This may include deep cleanings, periodontal therapy, or extractions of non-salvageable teeth. Once infection is controlled and the mouth stabilizes, implant planning can begin.
Treating Gum Disease Before Implant Placement
Before placing implants, the focus is on eliminating infection and stabilizing the foundation. This step protects both your health and the long-term success of the implant.
Treatment may involve:
- Scaling and root planing to remove deep bacteria
- Periodontal maintenance visits
- Antibiotic therapy in some cases
- Removing teeth that cannot be saved
Only after inflammation resolves and tissues heal can implants integrate properly with the bone.
What If Gum Disease Caused Bone Loss?
Bone loss presents one of the biggest challenges when a patient has both dental implants and a history of gum disease, but it does not automatically eliminate treatment options.
The extent and location of bone loss matter, and oral surgeons evaluate this carefully using imaging and clinical exams. In many cases, treatment can move forward with additional preparation.
Depending on severity, an oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting options such as ridge augmentation to rebuild lost jawbone, a sinus lift to address bone deficiency in the upper jaw, or modified implant placement strategies that use the remaining healthy bone more effectively.
All-on-4® Dental Implants for Gum Disease and Bone Loss
For patients with advanced gum disease and significant bone loss, All-on-4 dental implants often provide the most predictable solution.
This approach uses four (or more) strategically placed implants to support a full arch of teeth. Two implants anchor vertically in the front of the jaw, while two angle toward denser bone in the back. This design often avoids the need for extensive bone grafting.
Key benefits include:
- Works well in reduced bone volume
- Often allows same-day temporary teeth
- Fewer implants compared to traditional methods
- Stable, fixed teeth rather than removable dentures
From an oral surgeon’s perspective, All-on-4 offers a reliable path forward when traditional implants would require multiple grafting procedures.
Risks of Dental Implants After Gum Disease
Even after successful placement, implants require lifelong care. Patients with a history of gum disease carry a higher risk of peri-implantitis, an inflammatory condition affecting tissue around implants.
Risks increase when:
- Oral hygiene declines
- Regular cleanings are skipped
- Smoking continues
- Medical conditions affect healing
With proper maintenance and monitoring, many patients enjoy long-term implant success despite past gum disease.
How to Protect Dental Implants Long Term
Once implants are placed, long-term success depends on prevention and regular periodontal maintenance. Daily brushing and flossing, regular professional cleanings, and ongoing monitoring of gum health around implants is very important.
We also strongly advise quitting smoking before considering dental implants, as tobacco use significantly increases the risk of inflammation, bone loss, and implant failure. Addressing inflammation early and avoiding tobacco helps protect dental implants and supports long-term stability.
A Healthy Foundation Comes First
If you have gum disease and are considering dental implants, an initial evaluation helps determine the next steps. Once gum disease is controlled and the foundation is stable, implant planning can move forward safely.
Schedule a free dental implant consultation with AZ Max Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons in Mesa, North Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, and Show Low.
To book an appointment at any one of our locations, call or text (480) 830-5866.
FAQ
Yes, but gum disease must be treated and controlled first. Active infection in the gum tissue prevents proper healing and increases the risk of complications during implant placement.
Untreated inflammation can lead to peri-implantitis, which affects the surrounding bone and soft tissue, and eventually leads to implant loss. This risk increases if an oral hygiene routine is inconsistent after treatment.
Timing depends on healing and bone stability. If bone loss is present, a bone graft may be required before moving forward with the implant process, which can extend the timeline.
Lost bone does not regenerate on its own, but grafting procedures can rebuild structure and create a stable foundation for implant surgery.
Implants cannot decay from a cavity, but surrounding tissue can become inflamed. If this inflammation is left untreated, implants become infected and loose and are lost. Proper hygiene and maintenance are essential. Inflammation and infection around an implant is called peri-implantitis.
